Today I was called "Library Girl", which I suppose, is a compliment.
Next up, the Pew Charitable Trust just published a report/study about the Free Library of Philadelphia and all of its struggles. Basically, the library system is underfunded, understaffed, and typically sees declining visits annually because of slow service (because of the understaffed part), but which also gets high annual visits for children's reading times, speakers, and from adults who need to use the internet, etc.
A good question brought up though is: how do you get more people into the library? And how do you let people know what resources the library offers?
Last for today, I met with the teachers at Rowen School for a pow wow and a discussion on what books and resources they would like to see in their library. The principal and I are interested in purchasing an IPad Learning Lab Cart - but it costs $7,500+ which is no small fundraising feat. Hopefully we will get there though.
I'm ready for that fateful day in September when we finally have the Rowen library's grand opening. Whew. So ready.
Showing posts with label school libraries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school libraries. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Service Comes in a Variety of Shapes
The plans for MLK Day of Service 2012 are set in stone now, and our projects are ready for completion! Next week we will have a great series of stories and pictures about our (intending) successes on MLK Day, so stay tuned!
Also, I wrote the blog post recently about what people can do to support their local school libraries. Here's another update to that. This week I was given the link to a petition to improve and create school libraries in all public schools: "Ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program". Click here to check it out!
The petition is posted on the White House's website - you can check it out - and plenty of other petitions that the American people are interested in.
Petitions like this are a useful way to get the word out about the struggle for libraries in public schools - the more people it reaches, the more people will support the cause.
Have a great weekend!
Also, I wrote the blog post recently about what people can do to support their local school libraries. Here's another update to that. This week I was given the link to a petition to improve and create school libraries in all public schools: "Ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program". Click here to check it out!
The petition is posted on the White House's website - you can check it out - and plenty of other petitions that the American people are interested in.
Petitions like this are a useful way to get the word out about the struggle for libraries in public schools - the more people it reaches, the more people will support the cause.
Have a great weekend!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thanksgiving
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I spent my time relaxing - and now I'm ready for the next month! Library Build has a very (very!) busy few months coming up, and I'm grateful to all the people who have contacted me about volunteering or helping out!
Coming up is the Gift Wrapping and the Barnes and Noble Book fair - Remember, even if you can't gift wrap, you can still shop for Library Build (in store, or online) with gift code 10570174.
January 16 is Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service 2012! We are going to have so much going on in Rowen's library! Painting, sorting books, putting pockets into books, cleaning, etc. It will be a great day - and my service buttons are coming today!
A big thanks to our librarian friend Kate Bowman-Johnston for donating some books from the Oak Lane branch of the Free Library to Rowen's library! I am going through them today and will have a total this afternoon of how many books I have collected total for Rowen's library from just donations - I haven't even starting purchasing yet! (But the time is fast approaching, and I am pretty excited about it!).
Another update this afternoon - stay tuned!
Coming up is the Gift Wrapping and the Barnes and Noble Book fair - Remember, even if you can't gift wrap, you can still shop for Library Build (in store, or online) with gift code 10570174.
January 16 is Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service 2012! We are going to have so much going on in Rowen's library! Painting, sorting books, putting pockets into books, cleaning, etc. It will be a great day - and my service buttons are coming today!
A big thanks to our librarian friend Kate Bowman-Johnston for donating some books from the Oak Lane branch of the Free Library to Rowen's library! I am going through them today and will have a total this afternoon of how many books I have collected total for Rowen's library from just donations - I haven't even starting purchasing yet! (But the time is fast approaching, and I am pretty excited about it!).
Another update this afternoon - stay tuned!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Even Charter Schools!
I spent the morning at KIPP North Philadelphia (at 2709 Broad St.). Besides my own little obsession with KIPP (yes, I'm a fan - read "Work Hard, Be Nice" about the founders and you will be too), I was excited to see what their library and classroom spaces looked like.
I think there's plenty of suspicion out there about charter schools in general - and for the most part, that suspicion is well-placed. MOST charter schools do underperform, even compared to Phila district schools, and yes, some are corrupt and don't follow the rules.
KIPP is so far and away from those examples of horrible charters though. You just have to walk in one to notice it. They get nationwide attention because they truly are amazing, and outperformers.
I toured their library and met their librarian (no picture though because I forgot my camera!!). She told me that they got their library started with grant many years ago of about $10,000, but that since then the library is kept going by small donations or book donations - even a librarian at a charter school that is a part of a nationally recognized charter system doesn't have a library budget!
It just goes to show that everyone is struggling - even the schools that people would assume can provide these options. Libraries are expensive undertakings, but we need to realize what is most important - yes its important for there to be sports programs, extra teachers (I know, believe me), but if a kid can't read, then I don't know what we're doing all these other things for.
Just some food for thought on this dreary Thursday afternoon.
I think there's plenty of suspicion out there about charter schools in general - and for the most part, that suspicion is well-placed. MOST charter schools do underperform, even compared to Phila district schools, and yes, some are corrupt and don't follow the rules.
KIPP is so far and away from those examples of horrible charters though. You just have to walk in one to notice it. They get nationwide attention because they truly are amazing, and outperformers.
I toured their library and met their librarian (no picture though because I forgot my camera!!). She told me that they got their library started with grant many years ago of about $10,000, but that since then the library is kept going by small donations or book donations - even a librarian at a charter school that is a part of a nationally recognized charter system doesn't have a library budget!
It just goes to show that everyone is struggling - even the schools that people would assume can provide these options. Libraries are expensive undertakings, but we need to realize what is most important - yes its important for there to be sports programs, extra teachers (I know, believe me), but if a kid can't read, then I don't know what we're doing all these other things for.
Just some food for thought on this dreary Thursday afternoon.
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